www.iFourWinns.com

The acquisition includes the Ranger, Stratos, Champion, Wellcraft, Four Winns and Glastron boat brands; manufacturing facilities and related operations in Flippin, Ark., Cadillac, Mich., and Murfreesboro, Tenn.; and certain transportation equipment and other real estate assets.

A transition is now underway that will establish Platinum's new portfolio of former Genmar brands as a standalone business under a new corporate name. Details about the new corporate identity will be announced as the process unfolds.

Platinum announced today that it has appointed David Huls President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the new consolidated corporate holding company. Mr. Huls was previously Senior Vice President and CFO of Genmar Holdings, Inc. and had been with the company for more than five years. Jeff Olson will continue to serve as President of Four Winns and Wellcraft, and Mike O'Connell has been appointed to the newly created position of President of Glastron Boats.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista

Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy

I am not surprised to see Platinum maintain some of the Genmar/Four Winns leadership in this case. After all, this is the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression and the boating industry is one of the first industries to tank as the economy begins to stiffen. I personally don't see how any of these boat manufacturers have made it this long. However, it is good to see someone like the economically savvy Tom Gores invest in this industry right now. Perhaps he sees a light at the end of the tunnel?

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Current Boat: 2000 Four Winns 298 Vista
Previous Boat: 2000 Carver 406MY

This all great news...

I was having dinner with the VP of my favorite boat dealer while I was in Boston, and he expressed some significant excitement around all of these changes. The leadership and 'team' at Four Winns is staying pretty much totally intact -- there's experienced folks taking the highest leadership roles -- and there will undoubtedly be some new investments made.

Coincidentally, they are also regaining ground with the suppliers with the use of 'credit' -- as they had been on a cash only basis for quite some time.

They've been building 7 boats a day at the factory -- steadily. That's more than you can say for most of the other manufacturers out there right now.

And there's even some interesting thinking going on with Wellcraft. With it being run by Jeff Olson alongside FW - I wonder how that will play out.

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2008 318 Vista -SOLD, but I am still around!
All Night Long, Seattle WA